Did Billy the Kid have another ring?

[MissyS]

I like to enlarge photos sometimes because I find some interesting things when I do, and I wanted to share something I think could possibly be another ring on Billy’s index finger and looks possibly to have initials on it also in his famous tintype?  I’m not sure if it’s just debris on the photo, I noticed it in only images that are clearer than others or lighter to show detail, the band does not look visible that goes completely around the finger and it’s close to the knuckle so it may not be a ring? I thought it odd, looking close up it looks like possibly the letter C and D? in another somewhat detailed image it looks more like a design instead of initials?, But maybe it’s a trick of the eye?

[devorerd]

It almost looks like an anomaly in the photo, similar to the pinky fingernail..IDK...Good piece of detective work, we should exam the other so called pics for similarities. 

[cassandra jane]

On the off chance it’s not an anomaly, because it does look like there’s a band stretching around the back of the finger, it could be something from Catherine Devine (or a memorial to her)?

[MissyS]

Thanks, I didn’t see a band earlier but I do now see a faint looking band now, It also looks like the letters may be some type of Calligraphy script? I looked up images of other antique initialed rings and it looks like a typical style of engraved letters on jewelry back in the 1800’s. Puzzling that if it is a ring why is it missing on other copies of the photo? I wonder about the name Devine? If it was Catherine’s maiden name or middle name? Sometime ago I found a reference to the name Devine - a John, Devine- Pvt., 3rd U.S. Cav., killed with arrows in a skirmish with the Navajos 7-9-1867 he is listed as one of 22 bodies that were disinterred from Fort Sumner Cemetery and reburied at Santa Fe National Cemetery on March 8, 1906.

[cassandra jane]

Interesting. Could add another layer of meaning to Fort Sumner if the two were connected. My first thought when I initially saw the close-up was that it might be a signet ring. Second thought was wedding ring, but signet is my main guess because I know I’m inclined towards wearing rings on the index finger and my grandfather always had his signet ring on the same finger as Billy appears to have as well. There’s that sort of (not entirely sure how to describe it best) tight squeeze at the base of the finger that comes from a ring that’s maybe snug/too tight?

[reverse it]

wouldn't the letters be backward if you reverse the photo to where it shows it to be on his left hand, which is the actual hand it is on?

[Elwood]

Aug 10, 2021 22:55:07 GMT -5 MissyS said:

Thanks, I didn’t see a band earlier but I do now see a faint looking band now, It also looks like the letters may be some type of Calligraphy script? I looked up images of other antique initialed rings and it looks like a typical style of engraved letters on jewelry back in the 1800’s. Puzzling that if it is a ring why is it missing on other copies of the photo? I wonder about the name Devine? If it was Catherine’s maiden name or middle name? Sometime ago I found a reference to the name Devine - a John, Devine- Pvt., 3rd U.S. Cav., killed with arrows in a skirmish with the Navajos 7-9-1867 he is listed as one of 22 bodies that were disinterred from Fort Sumner Cemetery and reburied at Santa Fe National Cemetery on March 8, 1906.

Catherine Devine was married to Patrick McCarthy, and they were the parents of Patrick Henry McCarthy, born in September 1859 in NYC. A person by that name died in 1914 in New York, who had those exact parents' names.  Is there any documented proof that Billy the Kid ever had any family member by the name of Devine?

[MissyS]

That’s a good question Elwood, I’m not sure if that marriage record in NYC is the only source of the use of that name or not? When looking up Catherine Antrim I will see the name Devine also included in her name many times. I remember reading somewhere that the name Devine was on Catherine Antrim’s early tombstone, but looking at a couple pics of it, I don’t see it on there but it is weathered and parts faded in the photos of it, the name Devine is not on the marriage record with Antrim, and I don’t believe it’s on the documents for property I had assumed Devine may have been her middle name if not her maiden name but my assumptions are probably wrong all along?

[MissyS]

Aug 11, 2021 14:58:42 GMT -5 reverse it said:

wouldn't the letters be backward if you reverse the photo to where it shows it to be on his left hand, which is the actual hand it is on?

Your right it would be reversed, Thanks for pointing that out  , but when reversed the letters are backward. I’m guessing Billy may be wearing the ring upside down if so then it could still be a C D? 

[cassandra jane]

If not Devine, could be a reference to Dunn which might be suspect if Brushy was the liar so many claim.

[Deleted]

Aug 10, 2021 7:37:42 GMT -5 devorerd said:

It almost looks like an anomaly in the photo, similar to the pinky fingernail..IDK...Good piece of detective work, we should exam the other so called pics for similarities. 

I think so too.

[Deleted]

Also could be burnt skin. I think it is an anomaly in the photo, though.